Sacked workers' cases 'being exaggerated'

MANAMA: Labour Minister Jameel Humaidan yesterday accused a trade union federation of exaggerating the number of cases pending of workers sacked during last year's unrest.

He said only 100 such cases remain unresolved - and not 700 as claimed by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) before the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Mr Humaidan also lashed out at the ILO for failing to dismiss the "unjustified" complaint about the reinstatement of workers sacked during the unrest.

He was addressing a Press conference following his return from Geneva where he presented evidence to an ILO technical committee, which is studying the complaint.

The GFBTU and its supporters overseas have been trying to keep the issue alive to serve their own interests, said Mr Humaidan.

"Of the 4,600 people who lost their jobs, 98 per cent have been reinstated while the government is playing an active role in getting jobs for the others."

Thousands of workers were fired by the public and private sectors in Bahrain for their alleged role in the unrest in February and March last year. Most were later reinstated following recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.